Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 25 Jun 2015 [PDF]
• As IS Expands, Should US Deepen Military Involvement? VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- As Islamic State (IS) fighters launched fresh attacks near northern Syrian border towns Thursday, U.S. policy experts and lawmakers say IS is growing in strength and number and that may warrant greater U.S. military involvement.
• Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 25 Jun 2015 -- Coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• NATO Defence Ministers confirm enduring support for Afghanistan NATO 25 Jun 2015 -- NATO Defence Ministers confirmed enduring support for Afghanistan in a ministerial meeting of Resolute Support nations on Thursday (25 June 2015). Meeting with Afghan Acting Minister of Defence Masoom Stanekzai, the ministers reviewed the security situation and the first six months of the Resolute Support mission.
• Pakistan Rejects Afghan Allegations on Parliament Attack VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Pakistan has rejected Kabul's allegations that an officer of its intelligence agency was involved in an attack on the Afghan parliament.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US, Polish air forces participate in Ramstein Guard AFNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Air Force, along with its Polish counterparts, participated in NATO exercise Ramstein Guard with the first F-16 Fighting Falcon flights from the South Carolina Air National Guard, and the 32nd Tactical Wing here June 15.
• F-16 crashes in Arizona AFNS 25 Jun 2015 -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon flying with the 162nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard, crashed at about 8 p.m. June 24, five miles east of Douglas Municipal Airport, Arizona.
• Press Availability with Secretary Carter at NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium DoD 25 Jun 2015 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• PCU John Warner (SSN 785) Delivered to the Navy NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of PCU John Warner (SSN 785) June 25, the 12th submarine of the Virginia Class.
• USS Milius Returns from Deployment NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) returned June 25 from a 250-day independent deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• US' Baltics Deployment Highlights the West's European Arms Build-Up Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- As the war in Ukraine continues, western officials have accused Russia of aggressively interfering and fuelling the conflict. However an announcement that the US will deploy heavy weapons in the Baltic states has highlighted the extent to which the West has built up arms on Russia's doorstep.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting with the Netherlands Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert DoD 25 Jun 2015
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide DoD 25 Jun 2015
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting with Ukraine Minister of Defense Colonel-General Stepan Poltorak DoD 25 Jun 2015
• Marines wrap-up Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 USMC News 25 Jun 2015 -- At midday on the culmination of Exercise Southern Jackaroo, various amounts of gunfire could be heard throughout the training area until the battle was done and it was time to prepare for a movement. The battle group consisting of U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers, grabbed their packs, slung their rifles and took their first steps toward their objective as daylight receded over the horizon.
• Marines jump into Exercise Southern Jackaroo 2015 USMC News 25 Jun 2015 -- U.S. Marines with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, commenced Exercise Southern Jackaroo alongside Australian soldiers with Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Australian Army, Australian Defence Force, May 3 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia.
• George Washington Carrier Strike Group Enhances Alliance with Australia NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) departed Brisbane, Australia, June 24, after a five-day goodwill port visit.
• Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Enter U.S. 5th Fleet NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), June 21.
• NEO Drill Held in Naples NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Naval Support Activity Naples (NSA) Emergency Management Office held a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) drill for members of the military community at the base elementary school, June 23.
• USS Fitzgerald to Experience Life Down Under NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile-destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived in Brisbane for a port visit, June 25.
• USS Chafee Sailors Experience Rich Brisbane Culture NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) visited Brisbane, for a port visit and prepared for exercise Talisman Sabre 2015, June 19-24.
• USS Jacksonville Visits Australia During Patrol NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) arrived in Stirling, Australia, June 25 for a port visit as a part of its Western Pacific deployment.
• Navy Installations Going Green With Vehicle Fleets NNS 25 Jun 2015 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced in 2009 that the Navy's goal to reduce petroleum consumption by the non-tactical vehicle fleet is 50% by 2020, and Navy installations are doing their part by working on its fleet of government vehicles.
• OPM Computer Attack Highlights Bigger Issue, Clapper Says AFPS 25 Jun 2015 -- The attack on the Office of Personnel Management's computer system illuminates a larger issue of deterrence, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper said today.
• US Has No Plans to Deploy Ballistic Missile Defense Ships in Black Sea Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- According to US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Frank Rose, United States has no intention of permanently deploying Aegis ballistic missile defense warships in the Black Sea.
• Statement by NATO Defence Ministers NATO 25 Jun 2015
• NATO Military Buildup Near Russian Borders 'Provocative' - Source Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- Russia is preoccupied with NATO military buildup in some European countries and plans to further analyze the bloc's deployment strategies.
• UK to Train 250 Ukrainian Troops in August - Defense Ministry Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- The United Kingdom will train some 250 Ukrainian servicemen in August as part of an infantry, logistics, tactical intelligence and medical training program, the British Ministry of Defense said.
• NATO Defence Ministers express strong support for Ukraine NATO 25 Jun 2015 -- Allied Defence Ministers reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on Thursday (25 June 2015).
• NATO Tells Ukraine Country Must Reform Before Membership Can Be Considered Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- NATO Secretary General said that Ukraine will not be eligible to apply for a membership action plan to join NATO until it completes certain reforms.
• NATO Stepping Up Practical Aid to Ukraine in New Trust Fund - NATO Chief Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO is increasing practical aid to Ukraine to include regional airspace security and a new trust fund to demine the country.
• Russia always knew that US missile defense was aimed against it and China - security chief TASS 25 Jun 2015 -- Russia has always known that the US missile defence system is directed against it and China, and now this is confirmed, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said. 'We did know that it [missile defence system] was aimed, first and foremost, at Russia and China, but these events, which are taking place now, confirm this,' he said.
• Russia to Deploy S-400 Air Defense Systems Near Western Borders by End 2015 Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- According to Russia's Western Military District spokesman, Col. Oleg Kochetkov, the district will receive an unspecified number of advanced S-400 Triumf and Pantsir-S air defense systems by the end of 2015.
• Meet the Terminator 2: Russia's BMPT-2 Combat Vehicle Dazzles at Army-2015 Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- A new version of the unique Russian-made BMPT tank support combat vehicle, the BMPT-72, was the must-see vehicle at the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2015 that recently wrapped up in Kubinka, outside Moscow.
• Finance Ministry proposes to cut military spending in Russia's 2016 budget TASS 25 Jun 2015 -- The military spending in Russia's budget for 2016 will be cut but by less than 10%, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters on Thursday.
• Russia has no aggressive plans, but army's consistent development will continue - Putin TASS 25 Jun 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has no aggressive plans and poses no threat to anyone on the international scene, adding that Moscow is trying to resolve all disputable issues exclusively by political means.
• Russia developing system capable of 'switching off' foreign military satellites TASS 25 Jun 2015 -- Russia's Radio-Electronic Technologies Group (KRET) is developing a fundamentally new electronic warfare system capable of suppressing cruise missile and other high-precision weaponry guidance systems and satellite radio-electronic equipment, KRET Deputy CEO Yuri Mayevsky told TASS on Thursday.
• Amid NATO War Drums, Latvian President Urges Better Ties With Russia Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- Latvia should seek to develop good neighborly relations with Russia, Latvian President Andris Berzins said in an interview with the Latvian newspaper Vesti Segodnya on Thursday.
• China's Beidou navigation system more resistant to jamming People's Daily 25 Jun 2015 -- China has made breakthroughs in the anti-jamming capability of its Beidou satellite navigation system (BDS), the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily said Thursday.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 6/25/2015 The White House 25 Jun 2015
• June 25, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 25 Jun 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 25, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 25 June 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Jun 2015
• Analysis: What's Next for Yemen? VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Geneva peace talks involving Yemen's warring factions have failed to produce a cease-fire agreement, or even a humanitarian truce.
• Security Council welcomes 'extraordinary' efforts by UN to convene Yemen consultations UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- The Security Council today recognized and welcomed the extraordinary efforts of the United Nations to convene the UN-brokered political consultations on Yemen, strongly encouraging the parties to consider the UN Special Envoy's proposals to advance the process.
• UN releases emergency funding for relief efforts in crisis-torn Yemen UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations humanitarian arm today announces it will provide a critical injection of emergency funding in order to accelerate relief efforts to war-trapped civilians in Yemen, the Organization has confirmed.
• Aid efforts for Syrian refugees imperilled by 'staggering' $3 billion funding gap - UN UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- Humanitarian and development efforts targeting millions of Syrian refugees are at risk of collapsing due to a severe funding crisis, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) warned today.
• Kurds Accuse Turkey of Allowing IS Attack on Kobani VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- The Islamic State's assault on the Syrian town of Kobani on Turkey's border is putting Ankara under political fire.
• Turkish NGO move boosts Syria aid delivery IRIN 25 Jun 2015 -- Eight international NGOs delivering desperately needed food, blankets and medical aid to war-torn Syria have finally been granted legal status in Turkey after years of deadlocked applications.
• Funds for Syria refugees dangerously low: UNHCR Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations has called on international donors to make good on their pledges of aid for 3.9 million Syrian refugees, insisting that it is running out of funds to continue delivering basic services.
• Fresh ISIL attack on Kobani kills nearly 50 Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- The recent offensive by the Takfiri ISIL terrorists on Syria's northern border town of Kobani has reportedly left at least 35 civilians and Kurdish fighters dead.
• ISIL terrorists capture districts in Hasakah: Report Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- ISIL Takfiri terrorists have reportedly seized two districts in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakah.
• ISIL militants re-enter Syrian town of Kobani: Reports Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- ISIL militants have advanced into the northern Syrian town of Kobani, months after the Kurdish border town was cleansed from the terrorists, reports say.
• Turkey Accused of 'Supporting ISIL' as Jihadists Launch Kobane 'Massacre' Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- A leader of one of Turkey's pro-Kurdish parties has accused the Turkish state of aiding and supporting ISIL following a fresh attack on the Syrian city of Kobane, which has been described as a 'massacre'.
• Islamic State Forces Launch Attacks in Northern Syria VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Islamic State fighters launched two major attacks in northern Syria on Thursday, a fresh offensive on the Kurdish-held border city of Kobani and a push into government-held areas in the mostly Kurdish town of Hasaka.
• Syrian Refugees Unsure When to Return Home VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Refugees from a Syrian border town captured last week by Kurdish-led forces are unsure about when they will return but say they were driven out by coalition airstrikes and claims by Islamic extremists that Kurds would run amok in the town.
• 'We are getting closer to a solution,' says UN Libya envoy, opening latest round of talks on ending crisis UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- Previewing what he hopes will be the last round of United Nations-backed political talks on Libya, the UN envoy for the country said today the fact that all the participants in the dialogue have accepted a fourth draft proposal as the basis for a final political solution is "extremely encouraging" that agreement could be reached during discussions over the coming days.
• Moscow must stop backing pro-Russians in Ukraine: NATO Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on Moscow to stop "supporting" pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine.
• 15 Boko Haram militants killed by Niger's army Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- Niger's military says it has killed at least 15 Boko Haram militants in land and air operations conducted by the army against the Takfiri terrorist group.
• Security Council extends mandate of UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) for another year, until 30 June 2016, as well as the authorization it provides to the French Forces in order to support the mission.
• Colombia: UN chief concerned about uptick in fighting, urges continued peace talks UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the current upsurge in fighting in Colombia in a reversal of recent attempts to de-escalate the country's long-standing armed conflict, the United Nations spokesperson's office has reported.

News Reports

• US Human Rights Report Slams Iran, Cuba VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- The United States released a long-delayed annual human rights report on Thursday, with strong words for countries like Iran, Cuba, Myanmar and Vietnam, even as it seeks to improve relations with them.
• State Department: Russia Restricted Freedoms, Prosecuted Critics Last Year VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Restrictions on freedom of expression, politically-motivated prosecutions, and government discrimination against minorities were among the most significant human rights problems in Russia last year, the U.S. State Department says in its newly-released human rights report for 2014.
• Kerry Dismisses Khamenei Speech But Warns No Nuclear Deal Guaranteed RFE/RL 25 Jun 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has dismissed hard-line comments this week by Iran's supreme leader, but warned that talks with Iran may yield no agreement if Tehran refuses to resolve outstanding issues.
• Not Waiting For Nuclear Deal, Shell, Other Oil Firms In Talks With Iran RFE/RL 25 Jun 2015 -- Executives from Royal Dutch Shell and Eni have met Iranian officials in Tehran to discuss investing in the country's energy industry, the first time international oil firms have publicly confirmed such talks ahead of a possible nuclear deal with the West, the Financial Times has reported.
• Senior US Official: Iran Nuclear Talks May Miss Deadline VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- A senior U.S. administration official says Iran nuclear negotiators may not make a June 30 deadline for a final agreement.
• Experts: Iran's Positions Complicate Completion of Nuclear Pact VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- International security experts agreed Thursday in a U.S. Senate committee hearing that Iran's positions on nuclear talks are making a deal difficult to reach.
• UK, France Order 21 Satellite Launches From Russia's Roscosmos Sputnik 25 Jun 2015 -- Roscosmos has signed a contract with French and the UK firms on 21 commercial satellite launches on the Soyuz carrier rocket.
• Saudi Leaks Expose 'Checkbook Diplomacy' in Battle With Iran VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- Saudi Arabia's willingness to wield its oil money on the global diplomatic stage appears to have been laid bare, after the website WikiLeaks published tens of thousands of leaked cables from Riyadh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. WikiLeaks has not revealed its source, but a group calling itself the 'Yemen cyber army' has claimed it hacked government servers.
• France Freezes Russian Accounts In Magnitsky-Inspired Case RFE/RL 25 Jun 2015 -- French authorities have frozen millions of euros in bank accounts after launching an investigation into an alleged Russian fraud scheme uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky, a Moscow lawyer who died in a Russian jail.
• China US Talks Highlight Cooperation and Divide VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- This week's high-level talks between U.S. and Chinese officials on a wide range of issues highlighted the two countries' continuing uneasy relationship, despite an expanding and intensive effort to build ties.
• UN rights chief calls opening of office to monitor issues in DPR Korea a 'breakthrough' UN News 25 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, today called the opening in Seoul, Republic of Korea, of an office to work on human rights issues in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) a "breakthrough that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago."
• UN Rebukes North Korea After Threats Over Human Rights Office VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Thursday responded to North Korea's threats against the Seoul-based U.N. office mandated to investigate abuses in the North.
• Words are weapons as Burundi heads to the polls IRIN 25 Jun 2015 -- In the weeks ahead of Monday's highly contentious parliamentary elections in Burundi, a profusion of hate speech has been used as a key tool to whip up support in a campaign marred by harassment, intimidation and violence.
• Burundi VP urges president to withdraw 3rd term bid Press TV 25 Jun 2015 -- Burundi's second vice president has fled the African country after calling on President Pierre Nkurunziza to withdraw his controversial bid to run for a third term in power in the upcoming presidential vote.
• Armenian Protests Peaceful But Demands Unresolved RFE/RL 25 Jun 2015 -- Armenian security forces have refrained from another violent crackdown as demonstrators protesting against a hike in electricity prices blocked a central avenue in Yerevan for the fourth day running.
• Yerevan Vows To Go Ahead With Rate Hikes Despite Protests RFE/RL 25 Jun 2015 -- The Armenian government has refused to reverse electricity price hikes, as protest rallies in the capital entered their second week.
• DRC Government Compiles Corruption List VOA 25 Jun 2015 -- The office of the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) president, Joseph Kabila, has sent files of senior government officials accused of corruption to the attorney general for prosecution, according to Information Minister Lambert Mende.